London pre-open: Slight fall in store for FTSE

2nd May 2012 07:37

City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up five points from yesterday's close of 5,812, paring some of Tuesday's gains following Chinese PMI data, which came in below expectations. Standard Chartered bank said its broad geographic base once again helped it secure a strong start to the year wi

Read more

Standard Chartered reports strong first quarter

2nd May 2012 07:07

Standard Chartered bank said its broad geographic base once again helped it secure a strong start to the year with 'high single digit income growth' in the first quarter. However, it said that Income growth had been hit by the continued strength of the US dollar against Asian currencies in the firs

Read more

London close: US manufacturing data fuels late surge

1st May 2012 16:38

- US data offsets disappointing figures from China, UK - Lloyds leads banks higher, Man Group tumbles - Chemring gains 20pc after contract win With markets cautious early on after some disappointing manufacturing data from China and the UK, an upwards surprise in manufacturing figures Stateside gav

Read more

Sector movers: Lloyds leads banks higher

1st May 2012 16:00

Massive gains for Lloyds following the lender's first-quarter results meant that the banking sector was the best performing sector on Tuesday afternoon. Profits at Lloyds Banking Group were back in the black in the first three months of 2012, prompting a near-7% jump in the share price before the

Read more

Thursday broker round-up - UPDATE

19th Apr 2012 09:44

Afren: UBS raises target from 150p to 160p, buy rating unchanged. African Barrick Gold: Investec cuts target from 562p to 404p, hold kept. APR Energy: UBS downgrades from neutral to sell, target slashed from 1,110p to 860p. BHP Billiton: Credit Suisse reiterates outperform recommendation and 2,46

Read more

FTSE 100 movers: Burberry in bottom spot after growth eases

17th Apr 2012 14:55

Underlying revenue growth at luxury brand Burberry eased in the fourth quarter owing to a slowdown in growth at its Wholesale division, sending the stock into the bottom spot on the leaderboard. Total revenue grew to £1,027m in second half ended March 31st, from £877m in the same period the year b

Read more

London midday: Gains cemented by Spanish auction, ZEW index

17th Apr 2012 11:39

- Spain sees strong demand at debt auction - German ZEW surprises to the upside - Barclays leads banks higher after BofA note Gains for London's blue chip index had been extended by Tuesday lunchtime after some positive newsflow from Europe and a rebound in the banking sector. Spain issued €3.18bn

Read more

Sunday newspaper round-up: Tesco, BA, Recession

15th Apr 2012 14:48

Tesco's travails in its core British market will be exposed for all to see this week, with the group's full-year results expected to show dismal trading in the UK. The call from many quarters is that Tesco must get back to basics and sort out Britain at all costs - and pull back from its difficult A

Read more

London close: Banks, miners lead the rebound

11th Apr 2012 16:43

- Spanish, Italian yields fall on ECB intervention speculation - Barclays leads banks higher after upgrade - UK retail sales values rise in March London's FTSE 100 index finished Wednesday's session strongly following a steep fall yesterday, as investors saw opportunity to build positions in two he

Read more

London open: Stocks rise after upbeat China data

2nd Apr 2012 08:26

- Miners wanted after Chinese PMI reaches 11-month high - RBS to dish out dosh to preference shareholders - LSE acquisition of LCH.Clearnet passes milestone UK stocks opened with decent gains on Monday morning as miners rose on the back of some better-than-expected manufacturing data from China.

Read more

London close: Eurozone worries dampen UK stocks

29th Mar 2012 16:35

- Stocks dragged down by Eurozone concerns - International Power receives approach from GDF Suez - FirstGroup plummets after gloomy update London's FTSE 100 index sank to its lowest levels of the day by the close of trade on Thursday with Eurozone worries once again in focus as bond yields in Italy

Read more

Thursday broker round-up - UPDATE

29th Mar 2012 09:29

Advanced Medical Solutions: Investec upgrades from hold to buy, target lift at 97p. Antofagasta: UBS downgrades from neutral to sell, target cut from 1,150p to 1,050p. Aquarius Platinum: UBS cuts target from 160p to 155p, neutral rating unchanged. BHP Billiton: UBS cuts target from 2,600p to 2,50

Read more

London midday: Gains pared despite strong performance by banks

27th Mar 2012 11:55

- Government may cut stake in RBS - Defensives sold off - Resolution could split before sale The Footsie was nearly back where it started by midday, after gains were trimmed as heavy losses for Resolution, Compass and utilities stocks weighed on the blue chip index. The earlier rise for London's

Read more

Financial Policy Committee tells banks to raise capital ASAP

23rd Mar 2012 12:46

The Bank of England (BoE) has warned banks that they must raise external capital as early as is feasible. The Financial Policy Committee (FPC), which acts as a watchdog for the BoE, published a report expressing its concerns that "capital is not yet at levels that would ensure resilience in the fac

Read more

London close: Footsie finishes strongly as banks, miners provide a lift

16th Mar 2012 16:47

- Footsie finishes the week up 1.4 per cent - Eurozone debt crisis eases, US data mixed - Essar closes up 10 per cent The Footsie finished the week strongly, closing not too far off the elusive 6,000 mark, with financials and miners making ground as tensions arising from the Eurozone's debt crisis

Read more